New Taxi Recapitalisation Programme (TRP); “Operation Vala Zonke”; with Ministry

Video The Department of Transport presented updates on “Operation Vala Zonke” and the Taxi Recapitalisation Programme (TRP). Ms Barbara Creecy, Minister of Transport, and senior officials briefed the Committee on the progress, challenges, and goals of those initiatives. Operation Vala Zonke aimed to support municipal road maintenance, focusing on key national routes without shifting the full responsibility to SANRAL. To date, 15 486 pothole incidents have been documented, and over 2 000 kilometres of roads have been transferred to SANRAL’s oversight. The initiative had created over 95 000 work opportunities, constructed 33 modular bridges, and launched the “Adopt-a-Road” programme. However, Committee Members raised concerns over repair delays, municipal capacity, and equipment shortages, suggesting a government-owned construction company to improve local maintenance abilities. In discussing the Taxi Recapitalisation Programme, Members noted that the high cost of new taxis and limited financing options hindered industry participation. They recommended increasing scrapping allowances, considering tax incentives, and capping vehicle age to promote safety and modernise the fleet. Formalisation efforts included a new cashless fare system and a mobile app to improve compliance and payroll transparency. Concerns were also raised about inflation-adjusted incentives and the balance of representation between taxi associations. The Minister and SANRAL committed to refining these programs and collaborating with Treasury and stakeholders to address funding and operational challenges. The Chairperson encouraged continued inter-governmental cooperation.